The two membranes problem for different operators

We study the two membranes problem for different operators, possibly nonlocal. We prove a general result about the H\"older continuity of the solutions and we develop a viscosity solution approach to this problem. Then we obtain $C^{1,\gamma}$ regularity of the solutions provided that the orders of the two operators are different. In the special case when one operator coincides with the fractional Laplacian, we obtain the optimal regularity and a characterization of the free boundary

A photometric and spectroscopic survey of solar twin stars within 50 parsecs of the Sun: I. Atmospheric parameters and color similarity to the Sun

Solar twins and analogs are fundamental in the characterization of the Sun's place in the context of stellar measurements, as they are in understanding how typical the solar properties are in its neighborhood. They are also important for representing sunlight observable in the night sky for diverse photometric and spectroscopic tasks, besides being natural candidates for harboring planetary systems similar to ours and possibly even life-bearing environments. We report a photometric and spectroscopic survey of solar twin stars within 50 pc of the Sun. Hipparcos absolute magnitudes and (B-V)_Tycho colors were used to define a 2 sigma box around the solar values, where 133 stars were considered. Additional stars resembling the solar UBV colors in a broad sense, plus stars present in the lists of Hardorp, were also selected. All objects were ranked by a color-similarity index with respect to the Sun, defined by uvby and BV photometry. Moderately high-resolution, high-S/N spectra were used for a subsample of equatorial-southern stars to derive Teff, log g, and [Fe/H] with average internal errors better than 50 K, 0.20 dex, and 0.08 dex, respectively. Ages and masses were estimated from theoretical HR diagrams. The color-similarity index proved very successful. We identify and rank new excellent solar analogs, which are fit to represent the Sun in the night sky. Some of them are faint enough to be of interest for moderately large telescopes. We also identify two stars with near-UV spectra indistinguishable from the Sun's. We present five new "probable" solar twin stars, besides five new "possible" twins. Masses and ages for the best solar twin candidates lie very close to the solar values, but chromospheric activity levels range somewhat. We propose that the solar twins be emphasized in the ongoing searches for extra-solar planets and SETI searches.Comment: 25 pages, 15 figures, 14 table

Meson decay in a corrected 30P3^P_0 model

Extensively applied to both light and heavy meson decay and standing as one of the most successful strong decay models is the $3^P_0$ model, in which $q\bar{q}$ pair production is the dominant mechanism. The pair production can be obtained from the non-relativistic limit of a microscopic interaction Hamiltonian involving Dirac quark fields. The evaluation of the decay amplitude can be performed by a diagrammatic technique for drawing quark lines. In this paper we use an alternative approach which consists in a mapping technique, the Fock-Tani formalism, in order to obtain an effective Hamiltonian starting from same microscopic interaction. An additional effect is manifest in this formalism associated to the extended nature of mesons: bound-state corrections. A corrected $3^P_0$ is obtained and applied, as an example, to $b_{1}\to\omega\pi$ and $a_{1}\to\rho\pi$ decays.Comment: 3 figures. To appear in Physical Review